How did the Spanish use Aztec and Inca symbols of power?

The Spanish utilised Aztec and Inca symbols of power to legitimise their rule and facilitate the colonisation process.

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires in the 16th century was not just a military conquest, but also a cultural and symbolic one. The Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés in Mexico and Francisco Pizarro in Peru, recognised the importance of the symbols of power used by these indigenous civilisations and sought to appropriate them to legitimise their own rule.

In the Aztec Empire, for instance, the Spanish used the symbol of the eagle, a powerful emblem in Aztec culture, in their own heraldry. They also took over the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, and built their own city, Mexico City, on its ruins. This was a clear demonstration of their power and a symbolic act of erasure of the Aztec civilisation. The Spanish also used the Aztec's own prophecy of the return of their god, Quetzalcoatl, to their advantage. Cortés was mistaken for this returning deity, which helped him gain the trust and submission of some Aztec groups.

In the Inca Empire, the Spanish similarly appropriated Inca symbols of power. They captured the Inca ruler, Atahualpa, and used him as a puppet to control the empire. They also took over the Inca capital, Cusco, and built their own city on its ruins. The Spanish used the Inca's own system of roads and communication, the Qhapaq Ñan, to facilitate their colonisation process. They also adopted the Inca practice of extracting tribute from conquered peoples, which they used to enrich themselves and finance their colonial enterprise.

In both cases, the Spanish used these symbols not just to assert their dominance, but also to facilitate the process of colonisation. By appropriating these symbols, they were able to manipulate the indigenous populations and gain their submission. This strategy was crucial in the Spanish's successful conquest and colonisation of the Aztec and Inca empires.